DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF MINES 

JOSEPH A. HOLMES, Director 


OUTLINE OF 

MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS 


PREPARED BY 

JAMES W. PAUL 

// 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1913 



CONTENTS. 


Page. 


Introduction. 3 

Cooperation expected of mine operator. 3 

Cooperation with State mine inspector. 4 

Support by the mine-rescue crews. 4 

Preliminary arrangements to be made by the Bureau of Mines. 4 

Organization for maneuvers at the mine. 4 

General supervision. 5 

Detailed organization of mine-rescue crews. 5 

Schedule of operations. 5 

Work of rescue crews. 8 

Discipline of rescue crews. 9 

Material squad. 9 

First-aid team. 9 

Doctor’s headquarters and hospital. 9 

Commissary. 10 

Resting and sleeping quarters. 10 

Bureau of Mines rescue car. 10 

Police super vision. 11 

Information official. 11 

Notes to be kept by crew captain. 11 


D, OF 0. 
AUG k3 '913 







2 


First edition. August, 1913. 

























OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 



\ 


Prepared by James W. Paul. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The loss of life among mine-rescue parties in the past emphasizes 
the necessity for more preparation for mine-rescue operations. Few 
miners and mine officials have been confronted with the many 
responsibilities that immediately follow a mine explosion or mine 
fire involving loss of life and destruction of property. 

However, during the past three years, to prepare for such an emer¬ 
gency, many mines have been provided with mine-rescue breathing 
apparatus, and a number of training stations and rescue cars have 
been established. Many thousands of miners have been given 
instruction and training in safety measures and in the use of breath- 
ing apparatus, and on a number of occasions following disasters they 
have been used to much advantage in the saving of life and recovery 
of valuable property. 

To make this class of work more effective it is proposed that the 
Bureau of Mines initiate throughout the mining centers schools of 
instruction in the conduct of mine-rescue operations. In line with 
this demand, the following outline for conducting mine-rescue field 
maneuvers has been prepared. The cooperation of mine operators, 
State mine inspectors, and miners is urgently sought, for without 
their support the project will have little success. 

COOPERATION EXPECTED OF MINE OPERATOR. 

For mine-rescue operations the mine operator will be requested to 
cooperate as follows: 

To furnish one or more trained crews of five men each and a full 
set of breathing apparatus. 

To see that the breathing apparatus is at all times ready for 
emergency use. 

To keep on hand sufficient supplies to maintain the apparatus for 
a continuous period of 48 hours. 

When called upon in case of a mine disaster or for a field maneuver, 
to dispatch his crew and their equipment to the scene of the disaster 
or field maneuver and defray their expenses and wages. 

5436 — 13 ° 


3 




4 


OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 


To contribute to a fund to support a field inspector of apparatus 
and equipment, who will work under the direction of the Bureau of 
Mines. 

In case of disaster at his own mine, to notify the rescue crews of 
the Bureau of Mines and of neighboring mines, and to arrange for 
their entrance to the mine immediately upon their arrival. 

COOPERATION WITH STATE MINE INSPECTOR. 

In all field maneuvers attempt will be made to obtain the hearty 
cooperation of the State mine inspector. He will be invited to arrange 
with the mine superintendent and the rescue foreman to perform 
such duty as he would assume in case of a real mine disaster. 

SUPPORT BY THE MINE-RESCUE CREWS. 

The miners composing the crews will be requested to give their 
support to the movement to increase the general efficiency of mine- 
rescue operations and will be invited to volunteer for service in the 
field maneuvers and in actual disaster. 

PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE BY THE BUREAU OF 

MINES. 

The Bureau of Mines will make preliminary arrangements as follows: 

(1) Operators will be asked to select rescue crews and to place them 
in training; to keep apparatus in good condition ready for emergency 
use; and to have an ample supply of blue prints of their mines 
(preferably black and white prints). 

(2) Arrangements will be made with the operator to agree to send 
trained men to mine disasters and defray their expenses. 

(3) The State mine inspector will be invited to cooperate and to 
be present. 

(4) Notification 10 days in advance of maneuvers will be given the 
State mine inspector and the mine operator. 

(5) Arrangements as to the time and the scene of maneuvers will 
be made, Saturday and Sunday being the week days most preferable. 

(6) District maps showing cooperating mines, railroad connections, 
highways, and especially points where there are private or joint res¬ 
cue stations will be prepared. 

ORGANIZATION FOR MANEUVERS AT THE MINE. 

For mine-rescue maneuvers at the mine the preliminary organiza¬ 
tion should provide for the following: 

(a) General supervision, to be vested in the mine superintendent, 
the mine inspector, and the mine-rescue chief. 

(b) Detailed organization of mine-rescue crews. 

(c) Material squad. 

(d) First-aid teams. 


ORGANIZATION FOR MANEUVERS AT THE MINE. 5 

(e) Doctor’s headquarters and hospital. 

(/) Commissary. 

(g) Resting and sleeping quarters. 

(h) Police supervision. 

(i) Information official. 

GENERAL SUPERVISION. 

The superintendent of the mine, the State mine inspector, and the 
rescue chief of the Bureau of Mines should have full charge of the 
operations and should cooperate in all matters concerning the method 
of procedure. Any plan of attack selected should be reduced to 
writing and placed in the hands of the captains of the various crews. 

DETAILED ORGANIZATION OF MINE-RESCUE CREWS. 

SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS. 

The captains of the several rescue crews should report to the rescue 
chief, who should, with their cooperation, arrange a schedule of work 
and of rest for each of the crews. 

The activities of each crew during a period of 24 hours should be 
as follows: On duty four hours; off duty eight hours; on duty four 
hours; off duty eight hours. 

While a crew is on duty it should be supported at the base of 
operations by a full team as a relief crew. The advance and relief 
crews should exchange duty at the end of one and one-half hours and 
the retiring advance crew should immediately recharge apparatus. 

Crews should be designated by letters, as A, B, C, etc. With eight 
crews present they may be divided into brigades and known as the 
first brigade, comprising crews A and B; second brigade, comprising 
crews C and D, etc. If sufficient crews are available, it will be possible 
to have two or more crews acting as an advance in different sections 
of a mine or in the same section, when the organization may be made 
into divisions, each division consisting of two or more brigades. 

Below is presented a schedule contemplating the organization into 
brigades only. 

The members of the first brigade having charged, tested, and 
adjusted their apparatus, and assuming that the mine is ready for 
entrance at 1 o’clock and that the rescue or exploration work is to 
continue without cessation, the following should be the sequence of 
each crew’s movements: 


6 


OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 


Schedule of operations for eight crews organized in four brigades. 

FIRST BRIGADE, CREWS A AND B. 


Time. 

Operation. 

Period. 

1.00- l 30 

Enter mine to base of operations . 

Hours. 

i 
1 h 
i£ 

I 

1.30- 3.00 

3 00- 4 30 

A work in irrespirahle air as advance crew. B act as relief crew. 

A recharge apparatus and act, a,s relief crew. B act as advance crew. 

4.30- 5.00 

Retire from the mine. 




4 

5.00- 5.30 

Charge, repair, and test apparatus. 

ft 

i 

6 

5.30- 6. 00 


6 00-12 00 

Rest and sleep . 

12.00- 1.00 

Prepare to reenter mine to relieve crews G and Q...-. 

1 





8 


SECOND BRIGADE, CREWS C AND D. 


4.00- 4.30 

Enter mine to base of operations and relieve crews A and B. 

h 

1J 

1* 

i 

4.30- 6. 00 

C work in irrespirable air as advance crew. D act as relief crew. 

6.00- 7.30 

C recharge apparatus and act as relief crew. D act as advance crew. 

7.30- 8.00 





4 

8.00- 8.30 

Charge, repair, and test apparatus. 

i 

i 

6 

8.30- 9. 00 

Eat___ .t...!. 

9.00- 3.00 

Rest and sleep. 

3.00- 4.00 

Prepare to reenter mine to relieve crews A and B. 

1 





8 


THIRD BRIGADE, CREWS E AND F. 


7.00- 7.30 

Enter mine to base of operations and relieve crews C and D. 

i 

n 

n 

§ 

7.30- 9.00 

E work in irrespirable air as advance crew. F act as relief crew. 

9.00-10.30 

E recharge apparatus and act as relief crew. F act as advance crew. 

10.30-11.00 

Retire from the mine. 




4 

11.00-11.30 

Charge, repair, and test apparatus. 

} 

i 

11.30-12.00 

Eat......t. 

12.00- 6.00 

Rest and sleep. 

6 

6.00- 7.00 

Prepare to reenter mine to relieve crews C and D. 

1 





8 

FOURTH BRIGADE, CREWS C. AND H. 

10.00-10.30 

10.30-12.00 

Enter mine to base of operations and relieve crews E and F. 

G work in irrespirable air as advance crew. H act as relief crew. 

h 

n 

i§ 

i 

12.00- 1.30 

G recharge apparatus and act as relief crew. F act as advance crew. 

1.30- 2.00 

Retire from the mine. 




4 

2.00- 2.30 

Charge, repair, and test apparatus. 

i 

2.30- 3.00 

Eat.!.*.. 

3.00- 9.00 

Rest and sleep. 

9.00-10.00 

Prepare to reenter mine to relieve crews E and F. 

1 


8 


The above schedule of shifts may be presented diagrama tic ally 
as shown below. A mere inspection of the diagram will show the 
position of any crew at any hour of the day and the character of its 
occupation, and should' be of especial assistance to the commissary. 



































































ORGANIZATION FOR MANEUVERS AT THE MINE 


7 


Activities of each crew during rescue operations. 


Brigade. 


Crews. 


First. 


A and B. 


Second. 


C and D. 


Third. 


E and F. 


Fourth. 


G and H. 


Time. 

1.00 

1.30 

1.30 
2.00 
2.00 

2.30 

2.30 
3.00 
3.00 

3.30 

3.30 
4.00 
4.00 

4.30 

4.30 
5.00 
5.00 

5.30 

5.30 
6.00 
6.00 

6.30 
7.00 

7.30 

7.30 
8.00 
8.00 

8.30 

8.30 
9.00 
9.00 

9.30 
10.00 

10.30 
10. 30 
11.00 
11.00 

11.30 

11.30 
12.00 
12.00 
12. 30 

12.30 
1.00 
1.00 
1.30 

1.30 
2.00 
2. 00 
2. 30 

2.30 
3.00 
3.00 

3.30 

3.30 
4.00 
4.00 

4.30 

4.30 
5.00 
5.00 

5.30 

5.30 
6.00 
6.00 

6.30 
7.00 
7. 30 

7. 30 
8.00 

8. 00 

8.30 
8. 30 
9.00 


■Enter. 


A acts as advance, B 
acts as relief. 


B acts as advance, A 
acts as relief. 


jRetire. 
jc. T. R.a 
J-East. 



Rest and sleep. 


jEat. 
jc. T. R.a 
J-Enter. 


C acts as advance, D 
acts as relief. 


D acts as advance, C 
acts as relief. 


jEat. 


Rest and sleep. 


Retire. 


■Rest and sleep. 


} 

}c. T. R.a 
jEat. 


A acts as advance, B 
acts as relief. 


B acts as advance, A 
acts as relief. 


Eat. 

|C. T. R.a 
•Enter. 


E acts as advance, F 
acts as relief. 


F acts as advance, E 
acts as relief. 


jRetire. 
jc. T. R.a 
jEat. 


Rest and sleep. 


jRetire. 
jc. T. R.a 
jEat. 


jEat. 
jc.T. R.a 
jEnter. 


C acts as advance, D 
acts as relief. 


D acts as advance, C 
acts as relief. 


Rest and sleep. 


E acts as advance, F 
as relief. 


•Retire. 

■C. T. R.a 
jEat. 

a Charge, test, and repair apparatus. 


•Rest and sleep. 


jEat. 
jc. T. R.a 
\Enter. 


G acts as advance, H 
acts as relief. 


H acts as advance, G 
acts as relief. 


Rest and sleep. 


jEat. 

}c. T. R.a 
jEnter. 


Retire. 


} 

jC. T. R.a 
jEat. 


•Rest and sleep. 


jEat. 


































8 


OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 


Activities of each crew during rescue operations —Continued. 


Brigade.... 

First. 

Second. 

Third. 

Fourth. 

Crews. 

A and B. 

C and D. 

E and F. 

G and H. 

Time. 






9.00 
9.30 




F acts as advance, E 

}C.T.R.« 

10.00 
10.30 




acts as relief. 

j-Enter. 

10.30 
11.00 

■Rest and sleep. 



Retire. 


11.00 

11.30 




C. T. R.a 

G acts as advance, H 
acts as relief. 

11.30 

12.00 



Rest and sleep. 

Eat. 


12.00 
12. 30 
12.30 
1.00 
1.00 
1.30 

■Eat. 

]'C. T. R.« 

|Enter. 



Rest and sleep. 

H acts as advance, G 
as relief. 

1.30 

2.00 




|Retire. 


a Charge, test, and repair apparatus. 


As indicated by the above tabulation, during each 12 hours each 
crew will be on duty 4 hours, during which the members will be doing 
active exploration work for 1^ hours and acting as a relief crew for 1| 
hours, and resting for 8 hours. While the advance crew is at work, 
the members of the relief crew will have on their apparatus ready to 
turn on oxygen at a moment’s notice. 

Immediately upon retiring from the mine each crew should recharge 
its breathing apparatus, make any necessary repairs, and place the 
apparatus where they will be available for immediate use. The 
crews will then eat lunch and immediately retire to cots for rest and 
sleep for 6 hours. 

Before reentering a mine each member should drink water, tea, 
coffee, chocolate, or milk, but should eat no solid food at this time. 

The captain of each team should carry a notebook in which he 
should keep a record of the work done by his crew and of the apparatus 
worn by each member, and should report to the rescue chief. 

The rescue chief should report conditions to the mine superintend¬ 
ent and the mine inspector. 

WORK OF RESCUE CREWS. 

The crews should be required to observe all precautionary measures 
such as are necessary in exploring a mine in which an explosion has 
occurred; the entries, manways, and rooms should be explored in a 
systematic manner, and the faces of places explored should be marked 
with chalk to show date, hour, and initials of crew captain; the mine 
map should be carried and such parts of the mine as are explored 
should be checked on the map. Strict discipline should be observed 
and the members of the crew should not become separated. 















ORGANIZATION FOR MANEUVERS AT THE MINE. 


9 


DISCIPLINE OF RESCUE CREWS. 

1. The members must obey the commands of their captain. 

2. The members should hold themselves in readiness at all times to 
respond to emergency calls. 

3. Each member should be responsible for the condition of his 
own breathing apparatus. 

4. Each apparatus, before being used, should be tested to deter¬ 
mine that all joints are tight, all valves in proper working order, and 
the flow of oxygen up to the requirements of the apparatus. 

5. Before each shift all apparatus to be used should be fully charged 
for 2 hours’ work. 

6. The captain of the crew should inspect the apparatus of each 
member after it has been put on, and should read and record the 
number of the apparatus and the pressure of oxygen. 

7. When mouth-breathing apparatus is used each member should 
have his own rubber mouthpiece, which should be washed with soap 
and water after each use. 

8. When engaged in rescue exploration work the members of the 
crew should maintain intervals not to exceed 2 yards. 

MATERIAL SQUAD. 

The material squad should consist of 10 men and a foreman. This 
squad should supply all material required and should carry the 
breathing apparatus to and from the base of operations for the rescue 
crews when such base is as much as 1,000 feet from the mine en¬ 
trance; if more feasible, a mule and cars should be provided for 
haulage. 

The crew should select and set apart a suitable place for storing 
the breathing apparatus when not in use, and should commission 
a competent person to make minor repairs and to look after the sup¬ 
plies of oxygen and chemicals needed for the operation of the appa¬ 
ratus. 

FIRST-AID TEAM. 

A first-aid team should be present and be prepared to give first-aid 
treatment to any who may be injured in the rescue work. 

The rescue crews may bring out persons with imaginary injuries, 
which the team should treat. The team should then prepare the 
patients for the ambulance and for delivery to the doctor at his 
hospital. 

DOCTOR’S HEADQUARTERS AND HOSPITAL. 

The doctor should be stationed near the entrance to the mine so 
as to be available to enter the mine in case of an emergency. The 
hospital may be improvised by using a vacant room or a tent near the 
mine. The doctor should be provided with a surgeon’s emergency 
cabinet or hamper. 


10 


OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 


COMMISSARY. 


A commissary is one of the prime necessities in connection with 
the maneuvers. It should be in charge of a competent cook, and 
there should be assistant cooks to the number of one cook for each 10 
men. 

Selection should be made of a building having available two rooms, 
one being supplied with a range or cooking stove, the other to be 
used as a dining room. 

The utensils need not be elaborate nor expensive. The following 
outfit, which might be kept at some central rescue station, should be 
furnished: 

100 paper plates. 

12 1-pint tin cups. 

12 knives. 

12 forks. 

24 teaspoons. 

12 soup spoons. 

2 wash boilers. 

2 roasting pans. 

3 frying pans, large. 

4 tin dippers (water). 

2 carving knives. 

2 carving forks. 

6 salt shakers. 

24 pepper shakers. 

1 meat saw. 

Provision should be made for the following eatables or their equiv¬ 
alents, the quantities specified being sufficient for the subsistence of 
10 men for 24 hours: 


12 pie pans. 

6 bread pans with covers. 
3 large meat forks. 

1 can opener. 

1 meat board. 

6 washbasins. 

1 1-gallon coffee pot. 

1 1-gallon stew kettle. 

1 2-gallon stew kettle. 

2 buckets. 

1 axe. 

6 dish towels. 

12 cakes soap. 

12 boxes matches. 


1 pound salt. 

1 ounce pepper. 

1 package cereal. 

10 pounds beef (round) or mutton. 
1 soup bone. 

1 dozen eggs. 

5 loaves bread (light). 

1 pound butter. 

4 pound cocoa. 

2 gallons milk. 


1 dozen oranges or apples. 

10 pounds potatoes. 

1 pound coffee. 

4 pound tea. 

4 pounds sugar. 

6 pounds flour. 

2 pounds cheese. 

2 pounds crackers or ginger snaps. 
4 pounds fresh vegeables. 

2 pounds beans or rice. 


RESTING AND SLEEPING QUARTERS. 

Members of rescue crews when not on active duty should retire 
to their resting and sleeping quarters. The quarters should be in a 
building near the mine, or in tents; cots should be provided. Each 
member of the crews should provide himself with a blanket and 
towels. 


BUREAU OF MINES RESCUE CAR. 

Whenever a Bureau of Mines rescue car is in attendance at maneu¬ 
vers, arrangements will be made to lodge and subsist thereon, at the 
cost of provisions purchased, such State inspectors and mine officials 
as may be concerned in the maneuvers. 


ORGANIZATION FOR MANEUVERS AT THE MINE. 


11 


POLICE SUPERVISION. 

A police officer should be available to see that order is maintained 
and that no unauthorized person is permitted within the confines of 
the danger line, established by means of a rope. 

INFORMATION OFFICIAL. 

Following most mine disasters, erroneous and exaggerated reports 
become widely circulated, being based largely on the imagination of 
spectators. These erroneous reports often do great injury to the 
operators and cause unnecessary anxiety on the part of the relatives 
of the miners. To obviate these results the Bureau of Mines offers 
as a suggestion that following a disaster some responsible person 
should be designated to issue simple statements of facts concerning 
the disaster. The statements should be written and have the written 
indorsement of the mine management before they are given out. 

NOTES TO BE KEPT BY CREW CAPTAIN. 

In connection with any mine disaster or field maneuver, the captain 
of each rescue crew should take notes to be used in preparing a sub¬ 
sequent permanent record. A form for such notes is presented below: 

Form of notes to be kept by crew captain. 

1. Name of mine. 2. Location. 

3. Name of team. Brigade. Crew. 

4. Name of captain. Address. 

5. Names of rescuers: 1. Address. 

2 . Address. 

3 . Address. 

4 . Address. 

6. Apparatus worn by (give manufacturer’s number and type): 

Captain, apparatus No. Helmet No. Mouth breather. 

Rescuer 1, apparatus No. Helmet No. Mouth breather. 

Rescuer 2, apparatus No. Helmet No. Mouth breather. 

Rescuer 3, apparatus No. Helmet No. Mouth breather. 

Rescuer 4, apparatus No. Helmet No. Mouth breather. 

7. Date., 191... Shift No. 

8. Entered mine at .. hr. .. min. .. m. Arrived at base No. .. at.. hr. ..min. .. m. 

9. All apparatus put on, tested, and adjusted at_hr.min. .. m. 

10. Reading of pressure gages in minutes or atmospheres . 
































































12 


OUTLINE OF MINE-RESCUE MANEUVERS. 



11. Enteied danger zone at_hr.min.m., to be absent_hr.min., 

to explore. 


12. Remained at base as relief to crew., from.to 

Remarks. 


13. Returned from danger zone at_hr.mim_m., having explored the 

following places and observed the following. 


14. Note any unfavorable conditions of men or apparatus 


15. Left base No.at_hr.min.m. for outside of mine, arriving out¬ 
side at_hr.min.m. 

16. General remarks. 




o 



























